Machine for rolling plastic substances.



No. 651,299. Patented June 5, I900.

E. C OLARK. MACHINE FUR ROLLING PLASTIC SUBSTANCES. A licmi n filed July 17, 1599.)

(No Model.)

'UNITED STAT S PATENT Orrrcin ERNEST O. CLARK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

MAGHINE FOR ROLLING PLASTIC SUBSTANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of' Letters Patent No. 651,299, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed July 17,1899.

To aZZ 1071,0772, it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, ERNEST G. CLARK, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Detroit,-in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Rolling Plastic Substances, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in a machine comprising two eccentric cylinders moving at different peripheral speeds and preferably in opposite directions, so that plastic material such, for instance, as compounds used in making pills-will be rolled into shape.

The invention further consists of the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section, partly in elevation, through a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line '00 m, Fig. 1, some portions being in elevation; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 1 y, Fig. 2, showing differentshaped faces on the cylinders.

A is a suitable bed or table or frame,-on which the operating parts maybe supported. B represents brackets thereon. On the top of the brackets B are pivoted the levers O. In these levers is journaled the shaft D, to which is secured the drum E in any suitable manner, such as by the end spider-frame F. The upper ends of the levers O are connected to the levers G, secured to a rock-shaft H, from which extends the adjusting-lever I. This lever I is slotted to engage over the segmental arm J and may be secured thereto at any desired point, and thereby adjusts the bearing of the inner drum E, together with that drum.

On the table or frame are thering-bearings K, in which is journaled the drum or cylinder L. As Fig. 1 shows, this cylinder is larger than the cylinder E and incloses the same, the inner cylinder in its operating portion being eccentrically arranged in relation to the outer cylinder.

The outer cylinder and inner cylinder are driven in opposite directions and with different peripheral speeds. I have shown the Serial No. 724,105. No model.)

on ter cylinder-driven by the following means: On its outer face is a friction flange or ring a, engaging between the pair of frictionwheels I), which also engage the friction-wheel u on the drive-shaft (Z. The pair of frictionwheels I) are journaled in the bifurcated or double lever-frame c, pivoted at one end to the frame and at the other end having adj usting means, such as the screw-shaft h, for changing the driving relation between the drive-wheel c and the ring a to vary the speed of the outer drum. I have shown the inner drum as driven from the shaft (1 by a belt Z from the pulley m to the pulley n on the shaft D.

The parts being thus constructed, it is evident that if a ball or mass of plastic materialsuch, for instance, as is used in making pills--is fed between the two cylinders at the top, as shown at M, it will be rolled between the two oppositelymoving surfaces and reduced to a diameterequal to the point of nearest approach of the two cylinders and will then be discharged into the space below the inner cylinder. A tray 0 maybe held at this lower point and the rolled articles collected upon it, if desired.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the two drums as plain cylinders intended to be used to roll a ball or mass of plastic pill material into a cylinder, which may be cut up into the desired size and shape for pills. It is evident,

however, that the face of the drums maybe of varied configuration to roll different shapes, and, in fact, if made as shown in Fig. 3, that it may be used to roll pills complete from cylinders of the material. In Fig. 3 the contiguous faces of the two drums are shown as pro- Vided with complementary ribs 0 and grooves 19 of such shape as to roll spherical pills. In this case it is evident that the ribs 0 on'the inner and outerdrum would necessarily touch,

. or nearly so, at their point of nearest approach to sever the cylinder beingrolled into separate pills.

It will be evident that the interval during which the articlewill be rolled-will depend upon the difierence in speed between the faces of the inner and outer drums. I

In addition to the two drums I have shown a frame carryin rollers over the face of the inner drum to maintain the cylinders which are being rolled inparallel relation to the drums and to insure their proper feed through the machine. This construction is as follows: P represents spider-heads journaled on the shaft D.

These heads are connected by the cross-bars 1 0, extending parallel to the outer face of the inner drum. Beside these cross-bars and j on rnaled in the spider-heads are rollers T, the relation of which is plainly shown in Fig. 1. The journal for the heads P is cylindrical, embracing the shaft D and engaging in the bearing in the levers O; as shown in Fig. 2. To the outer end of this journal I secure a drive pulley or wheel B, through which the frame (which I call the feed-frame) may be caused to move in the same direction as the outer drum, but at a speed corresponding to the speed at which the material will be fed forward by the difference in speed of the two drums. Thus the rollers T, moving between thetwo drums, willprevent the material from assuming an angular position and insure the rolling of the two cylinders. Of course where I use a configuration of drums as shown in Fig. 3 I do not need the feed-frame, nor do I deem it an essential with the plain drums, as I consider it more as a precaution than a ne cessity.

The inner drum may be adjusted to different positions for different sizes of Work and forcleaning maybe adjusted clear away from the outer drum. I do not desire to be limited to the adjustment of the inner drum, as it is evident either one may be adjusted.

In order to provide means for accurately adjusting the position of the cylinder E which at the same time permits of its being thrown back for the purpose of cleaning, I preferably provide an adjustable stop on the segment J, against which the lever I will strike. lhis I have shown as consisting of a collar .9, secured to the segment, having an car i, with which a screwu engages, the latter forming the stop for the lever and having an operating crankhandle '0.

I have used the word smooth in the claims not to indicate plane surfaces, but as contradistingnished from rough, so that the construction shown in Fig. 3, if the grooves are smooth, have smooth surfaces, as well as the faces shown in the other figures.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. A machine for rolling plastic material, consisting of two drums having contiguous smooth rolling-surfaces and eccentrically arranged one within the other, means for driving the drums at diiferent speeds in opposite directions, whereby the feed movement of the material is proportionate to the differential speed and both drums roll the material.

2. A machine for rolling plastic material consisting of two cylindrical drums having smooth-faced contiguous surfaces and eccentrically arranged one within the other, means for driving them at different speeds in oppo-. site directions to thereby produce a feed move-' ment of the material, and means for varying the differential speed.

3. A machine for rolling plastic material consisting of a drum levers at each end of the drum, in which itis journaled, means for rocking the levers, and for holding them in their adjusted positi'ons, an(l an outer drum inclosing the first-mentioned drum, and means for driving the two drums in opposite directions at different speeds.

t. A machine for rolling plastic material consisting of a ring-shaped journal, a drum j ournaled therein, brackets beside said drum, levers pivoted on said brackets, means for rocking said levers, a shaft journaled in said levers, a drum secured to said shaft arranged within the outer drum and eccentric thereto, and devices for driving the two drums in opposite directions and at different peripheral speeds.

5. A machine for rolling plastic material consisting of two drums eccentrically arranged one within the other, means for driving them atdiiferent speeds and in opposite directions, and a fced-frame moving between the two drums.

6.. A machine for rolling plastic material, consisting of two drums eccentri'callyarranged one within the other, driven at different speeds and in opposite directions to thereby produce a feed movement of the material, and complementary smooth-faced grooves and ribs on opposing faces of the drums for the purpose described.

7. In a machine forrolling plastic material, the combination of two driven dru ms eccentricall y arranged, one within the other,'lcvers in which the inner drum is journaled, arms to which said levers are connected, a rockshaft on which said rock-arms are secured, a lever for controlling said rock-shaft, and an adjustable stop for said lever, substantially as described.

8. A machine for rolling plastic material, consisting of two drums eccentrically arranged one within the other, means for driving them at different speeds in opposite directions, the point of nearest approach being some distance above the bottom of the drums and a tray between the drums at the bottom upon which the rolled articles are collected.

9. In a machine for rolling plastic material, the combination of two driven drums, concentrically arranged one within the other, levers on which the inner drum is journaled, an operating-lever connected to the journalsupporting levers, a guide for said operatinglever and an adjustable stop on said guide comprising a collar 3 and a set-screw a, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST O. CLARK.

IVitnesses:

JAMES WHITTEMORE,

H. 0. SMITH. 

